I Am… Because of His Legacy: Paso Robles celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. on January 19

Join fellow community members at a free event honoring the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. on Saturday, January 19 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Flamson Middle School auditorium, located at 2450 Spring St. With a 2019 theme of “I Am … Because of His Legacy,” this annual celebration commemorates King’s lifelong journey toward equality and peace.

“This year’s theme honors Dr. King on the 50th anniversary of his assassination,” Event Chairperson Lovella Walker said. “The celebration brings together people from all different aspects of our local community to recognize and appreciate both our differences and similarities.”

The March for Unity kicks off the day — participants should gather at 11:30 a.m. at 21st Street and Riverside Avenue, near the fairgrounds. At noon, walk with friends and family to Flamson Middle School to start the 1 p.m. celebration; refreshments will be provided to all march participants.

“In keeping with the commemorations planned across the United States to honor the civil rights leader… the theme asks each of us to think about what we have become because of King’s leadership,” Walker said. “We are asking the community to fill in the blank — ‘I am more aware because of his legacy … I am more resilient because of his legacy … I am more tolerant because of his legacy.’ These are only a few possibilities for answers to the question, ‘What are you because of his legacy?’ Because of his legacy, we hope people will reflect equality, unity, and genuine love amongst one another.”

Due to the crowd’s overwhelming response to Dr. Joye M. Carter, MD last year, she will return as the 2019 keynote speaker. Dr. Carter is expected to expound on the theme and motivate, captivate, and inspire the audience with an enthusiastic, powerful message.

The program will also feature folkloric dancers; The Black Queens; PRHS Jazz Band; bagpipes; Singing Hands; the PRHS Black Student Union, and more. In addition, the annual Art & Essay Contest returns — Joe Schwartz Photo Archive will be donating his posters as prizes — and there will be door prizes.

The event is made possible by The City of Paso Robles, the REC Foundation, Paso Robles 4A Foundation, Paso Robles Joint Unified School District, Paso Robles Waste & Recycle, Second Baptist Church, and Walmart.

The Ministerial Association will make the celebration part of its Week of Unity, according to Walker. This will start on Jan. 18 for eight nights of prayer for Christian unity, hosted at several different local churches.

Event volunteers are still needed; call 805-237-3988 or see prcity.com/recreation for more information.

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About The Author

Meagan and her husband, Ron, moved to Paso Robles in 2001. Born and raised in Bakersfield, she remembers it as a spot her family would pass through on the way to beach campsites along the Central Coast during her childhood and teen years. Decades later, Meagan is proud to call Paso Robles home. She holds degrees in Journalism and Mass Communications and is a life-long learner (“which class should I take next?”). Meagan enjoys hearing about interesting people, places, and events, and sharing good stories about good people doing good things! After many years in the hospitality and medical industries, working around her children’s school hours, she returned to her passion – writing – and made the leap to going completely freelance a few years ago. Meagan and Ron have a blended family of seven children, and they are grandparents to nine beautiful grandchildren. Her favorite places to be are: on the beach, curled up with a book, at her computer keyboard, and any place/any day with her family and friends.